Carrier-chain.



G. S. WITHAM, JR-

OARRIBB. CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-.22, 1910.

Patented June 11, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

G S. WITHAM, Jn.

CARRIER CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1910.

Patented June 11, 1912.

2 SHEETBSHEET 2.

INVENTOR 1 Mm; @RNEYO;

WITNESSES:

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. WITHA I, JR, OF HUDSON FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ,THE WITKAM COMPANY, OF HUDSON FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CARRIER-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11', 1912.

Application filed August 22, 1910. Serial No. 578,267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. WITHAM, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at HudsonFalls, Washington county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carrier-Chains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in carrier chains, principally designed for conveying pulp wood and the like to the saws, rossers, splitters and like appliances of a ulp mill; althou h, it is likewise applicabe to other simi ar purposes in analogous arts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. represents a top plan view of a portion of a carrier chain embodying m invention.

Fig. 2. represents a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3. represents a central longitudinal section. Fig. 4. represents a bottom plan view. Fig. 5. represents a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6. represents a section on the line '6.-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7. represents an end view of one of the individual elements or links of the carrier chain. Fig. 8. represents a like view of the opposite end thereof; and Fig. 9. represents, in longitudinal section, the operation of assembling or disassembling the links of the chain. m

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the carrier chain is made up of a series of individual elements or links alike in structure, and which may conveniently, though not necessarily, be formed of malleable castings. The upper surfaces of these links are of concave or trough shape, to which end they are provided with the oppositely extending outwardly projecting side wings a, which merge at their bases into the trough-like bottom I). Underlying the side wings a are the transverse vertical webs 0, extending from the bottom d, so as to support and strengthen the side wings, without materially increasing the weight of the link as a whole. At its forward end, each link is provided witH a cross bar e, extending from one side f of the link to the other side, and projecting suflicientlyforward of the front edge of the upper surface of the link bottom'b to leave an intervening recess h (see Fig. 9.). At the opposite end of the link there is provided a cylindrical boss 2', separated from the sides f, f, by intervening spaces 12, n, and having a hollow interior m, slotted along its lower portion from end to end of the boss, as shown.

In assembling the elements or links of the chain, adjacent links are brought into a position substantially at right angles to each other, as indicated in Fig. 9, and in such manner, that the cross bar e of one of the links will engage and enter the hollow interior m of the boss i; whereupon,.by bringing the two links into alinement, they will interlock. In like manner, additional elements or links are added until a chain of the desired length is made up, and the final links of the chain can then be assembled to complete an endlesscircuit appropriate for the particular use intended. Whenever it is desired to disassemble the chain, or to remove an injured or defective link and substitute another for it, the link to be removed is brought into the same position with relation to the adjacent member of the series, as shown in Fig. 9, whereupon it may be readily removed.

As hereinbefore indicated, my invention is of particular advantage in the transfer of pulp wood in mills for the manufacture of pulp and pa er. In the presentpractice, ordinary transfer chains are employed, runningalong the bottom of troughs or guide ways whose sides are given a steep angle or inclination in order to insure that the wood shall ride the chains. Practically, it is found that, to a greater or less extent, wood thus conveyed likewise scrapes along the sides or inclines occasioning corresponding friction and wear along and upon those surfaces. All of this is avoided in the use of my invention. The individual links being concave or trough-shaped, the pieces of wood centerthemselves and remain cradled in the conveyer until they reach their desi ned destination, without occasioning the friction and loss of power due to the use of the usual chains, while, at the sametime, having a larger range of working efliclency,

, and having increased advantages of assem- I claim- 1s:

1. A carrier chain, made u of a series of individual links, having inclined side wings merging into a trough-like closed bottom; substantlally as described.

2. A carrier chain, made u of a series of individual links, having inclined side Wings merging into a trough-like closed bottom, and vertical webs un erlying the side wings and sup orting the same; substantially as described 3. A link for carrier chains, comprising an upper receiving main body portion constituting a cradle or trough with inclined side wings merging into the trough-like bottom at substantial y the central upper surface thereof so as to center a lon the middle portion of the link the materia to be conveyed, a subjacent forwardly extending cross-bar at one end of the link, and a sub jacent bar-engaging boss at the other end of'the link.

4. A link for carrier chains comprising a bodly presenting a trough-like surface, upward y inclined side wings mer ing into said surface and extending lateral y beyond the body at opposite sides of the latter, and transverse vertical webs interposed between the lateral portions of the body and the under surfaces of the respective side wings; substantially as described.

5. A carrier chain, made up of a series of individual links, having inclined side wings merging into a trough-like bottom, a forwar ly-projecting cross-bar at one end, and aboss at the other end, said boss having a hollow interior and a longitudinal slot opening into said interior and being furthermore separated from the sides of the link by intervening recesses; substantially as described. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. WITHAM, JR. Witnesses:

JOHN L. LINEHAN, O. J. MILLs. 

